What type of latch is best?

[hollyclyff]

We are, hopefully, finishing up our coop this weekend and I need to buy latches for the doors. I keep reading that raccoons can open certain kinds of latches, but I can't seem to find where anyone says what those kinds are. And more importantly - what kind can they generally *not* open - aside from padlocks obviously? Thanks.

 

[schmoo]

I have a slide latch (not hook) it slides into a hole in the door. Its hard for me to open so no coon could do it.

 

[chickbea]

Best luck I had was one of those hook and eye ones that has the safety spring on it. The only drawback is you have to take your gloves off in the winter to manipulate the thing.

 

[hollyclyff]

schmoo - I can't picture the type of latch you're talking about working on the type of doors I have. Maybe I don't understand, but I don't think I can have it so it goes through a hole in the door.

chickbea - I use that type of latch on my turtle pen and haven't had anything get in there yet, but I thought maybe chickens would be a bigger motivator. If that type works, I like it. They're inexpensive and easy for humans to use and will work on my doors. It doesn't usually get cold enough here to need gloves, so that's not a problem.

Thanks.

 

[schmoo]

I took a picture of our lock -now if I could get it uploaded that would help. Grrrrr my dial-up is not helping. I guess it's worth it to live in the country...........I'll keep trying

 

[schmoo]

finally heres mine......it slides into a hole in the doorframe

 

[hollyclyff]

Thanks for the picture schmoo. That would work for the main pen door, but not for the other doors (feed, water and egg access doors) But I haven't seen that exact sort at any hardware store around here. The ones I've seen slide through a "hole" attached on the outside of the door frame - I think they're called slide bolt latches? They look like they would be easy to manipulate for a raccoon.

 

[allen wranch]

I have slide bolts that go over a loop. I put padlocks on them, and hang the key beside it. Hopefully, a raccoon is not smart enough to insert a key into a lock and turn it, but I am not too sure.

 

[ella]

I have padlocks on all of mine. I don't think there is any other kind that a racoon couldn't figure out. If you can manipulate it they can too!

The only thing you could do is put it up high where they can't reach it, but that doesn't work on the little chicken doors.

 

[barg]

I got hook and eye latches, then I bought a set of cheap locks that all use the same key.
I got 6 locks and 6 keys in the package at walmart for about 10 bucks. Means I can loose 5 keys and still be able to open all 6 locks, thats good for me, I loose my keys alot. haha